Continuous in-tank brine cultures

[tonyespinoza]

Anyone running the small bubbly brine shrimp hatcheries in their fuge or display? I know that putting too many eggs in can create a lot of waste, so would a tiny amount work? Any thoughts on this approach? I'm hoping this might support gorgs and dendros/sun corals...

 

[Reefer Steve]

Tagging along im very curious to this as well

 

[rickb]

Interested as well, I had posted along a semi-similar idea

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1405961

 

[OCEAN SIZE]

Great question. I'd say check with GreshamH at Reed's Mariculture. Not sure about culturing all the way up the food chain, but I certainly want to do the same thing you're hoping to. Tagging...

 

[yrema]

that's an interesting idea.

will tag along too.

 

[snorvich]

Likewise. Anyone doing this?

 

[tonyespinoza]

i'm amazed no one seems to be doing it... guess i'll give it a try!

 

[billsreef]

If you do try it, be sure and used decapsulated cysts Otherwise I see no reason what your suggestion shouldn't work out fine.

 

[tonyespinoza]

ah... so the normal san francisco bay brand shrimp eggs aren't decapsulated, huh?

why are decapsulated better for this application? (i trust you! just like to understand the reason -- are raw eggs less likely to hatch or are they just full of the extra nutrients we avoid?

i found some for sale online:
http://www.brineshrimpdirect.com/c2/Decapsulated-Brine-Shrimp-Eggs-c21.html

 

[tonyespinoza]

opps - those eggs i posted are not hatchable... their site says that their process of decapsulation makes them infertile.

 

[billsreef]

Normal cysts leave behind an undigestable egg shell that will cause gut compaction in your fish. With those decapped eggs you linked to, it's not the decapsulation process that makes them unhatchable, but the storage/packaging method. They also have a link for decapsulating your own cysts, including how to store the decapsulated cysts for future hatching.

http://www.brineshrimpdirect.com/c123/What-are-decapsulated-brine-shrimp-eggs-c120.html

Some companies do sell hatchable decapped cysts in brine solution. Seahorse Source is one that comes to mind that a number of the breeders use.

 

[sccrcoach]

I would be interested in this also...let me know how it goes for you

 

[tonyespinoza]

the "hatcher" system i have that sits in the tank has an area for the unhatched eggs to remain while the nauplii (sp?) can swim into the tank, so i think i'm just going to give it a go.

 

[Davo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12747305#post12747305 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tonyespinoza
the "hatcher" system i have that sits in the tank has an area for the unhatched eggs to remain while the nauplii (sp?) can swim into the tank, so i think i'm just going to give it a go.

I looked at this idea also.. but the question of salinity for hatching came to mind and was interested on how this is over come? do advise doesn't the hatchery uptake water from the tank or do you mix and fill it..
please post back and let us know how it goes...

 

[glassbox-design]

Aqua Medic makes a small unit called the Aqua Breed, it's been around for some time but never has been very popular. A better DIY unit could certainly be made. I dont believe it allows the hatched shrimp to swim the tank, but it does make it convenient being in tank.

Tony do you have any photos of your hatcher?

 

[tonyespinoza]

i'm setting this up tonight:
http://www.aquacave.com/continuous-hatchn-feeder-91.html



i'll let you know if any of them make it in 24 hours or so...

my tank has gorgs, sun corals, and carnation corals in addition to LPS (Euphyllia, Favia, Echino) and SPS (monti's, birdsnest), one leather, and two kinds of xenia.

-tE

 

[billsreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12748090#post12748090 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Davo
I looked at this idea also.. but the question of salinity for hatching came to mind and was interested on how this is over come?

Tank salinity will be fine for hatching them

 

[kmckay]

Interesting thread, never considered this. Keep us updated.

 

[tonyespinoza]

well, about a quarter of the eggs have hatched so far and the little guys are swimming into the tank. when they first started hatching (after about 12 hours) the fish started racing around... (that's what got my attention.)

i have a little LED book light rigged to point at the opening and hopefully draw more out through the night while my various dendros are open...

so far i see no reason why this shouldn't work (as long as i don't put in too many eggs...)

about the only challenge is making sure they get down into circulation and not get sucked into the surface skimmer (Tunze 3167 filter).

 

[itZme]

Wonder if you could set up an auto-feeder to dispense the eggs daily so you wouldn't have to refill all the time and it would be almost completely automated. You would just have to check that the hatcher was cleaned out and not built-up with unhatched eggs or something.